Filler for the panels of animal pens



1 1,620, 7 March 15, 1927. c. O. LESHER 9 6 FILLER FOR THE PANELS OF ANIMAL -PENS Filed Aug. 2, 1926 //VI/ NTOR Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

r itzae'ie UNITED, s ara's rATENr o ric CHARLES 0. LESHER,

FILLER FOR THE PANELS OF ANIMALPENS.

Application filed August 2, 1926. Serial no. 126,393.

My invention relates to fillers for reducing thespaces between the vertical bars in the panels of pens designed at times to hold the spaces between the bars of the panel, the

fillers being adapted to be readily set in place when needed, and to be easily removed when not needed; and it consists of a vcentral verti-- cally disposed member to be placed in the bottom of each space between the adjacent vertical bars of the panels'of the pen, which member is provided at its upper and lower ends with horizontally disposed adjustable arms, the outstanding ends of which areadapted to be adjusted to suit the different widths which the adjacent vertical bars may be set apart, thereby-always contacting firmly with the said adjacent vertical bars, and thus reducing the spaces between the bars at least one half. It further consists of an improvementin the details of construction whichwill be hereafter described and'set forth in the claims. e l

\ In the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, Fig. 1 is a side viewofthe lower portion .of one of the spaces between the adjacent vertical bars of i the panel for a pen of the kind described,

. showing one of my fillers in place andalso some lower connections which will be later described. F 1g. 2 1s a longitudinal viewof one of the horizontal arms which are used to hold the fillers in place. Fig. 3 is a vertically disposed section drawn lengthwise through the center. of Fig. 2.

. Referring to the drawings,

lower portions of which are shown in Fig. 1,

rial. Bis a bottom rail to which the lower ends of the vertical bars A are usually connected, and which are, also preferably tubular. C represents a curb which is generally constructedon the floor (not shown) upon which the pen is placed. As known to those skilled in the art, the corner posts of the pen (also not shown) are connected to the ends of the bottom rail B, and their lower ends are set in the curb C when-a curb is used, or they may be set in the floor on which the pen is placed when the curb is not used. It will also be understood that to complete the panel,additional vertical bars will have A represents. apair of the vertical bars of a panel, the" bars A, theoutstandin'g ends-L should'be to be used which are not shown in the draw- Y I Diis.tl1e' principal member of the filler.

'It is preferably made of a. rod of iron or steel with threaded ends and two threaded nuts on each end. E represents horizontally disposed so called arms, preferably made of fiat straps of metalof the proper width and; thickness for the necessary strength. These arms are provided with elongated slots F.

and H, the former of which preferably has rounded ends, and the latter, rectangular ends. They are also provided with laterally disposed lugs I on the endhaving the slot F,

and a concaved recess. on the opposite end;v There are four of these arms and they are arranged in'pairs withthe lug I of one arm inserted inthe slot H of the, other arm.

heretofore stated, the member I) is providedat each end with a pair of threaded nuts which are lettered J and K. When the OF FAIRFIELD, Iowa, remnant THE LOKVIDE'N'MACHINERY I I .r coMrANY, A coRroRA'rIon'onmwA; I

arms are lapped togetherin pairs and the nuts K are removed, the endsof the member-D are insertedin the slots F which are more or less .oppositeeach other according to the adjustment of the arms. When the nuts K. are replaced the arms will be held in place onthe ends of the member D and before thejnuts K are tightened-they can be readily adjusted so their, outstanding ends L will accurately contact withthe adjacent bars A, even if the different spaces between said bars should vary to a considerable ex tent. The lugs I being inserted in the ad-.- jacent slots H, the arms lappedjtogether, will be held in alignment, and when the nuts K are tightened the outstanding ends L will be held in rigid contact with the bars A. 7 .When cylindrical tubes; are usedf for the made concave to fit them, but when other shapes are used the ends L should be made to fit the contour of the shape used. It is also advisable to form a notch M in them center of the ends L, as most plainly shown in Fig. 2. Whenthis is done the pressure of the ends againstthe adjacent bars A willbe more at the, edges than in the center, and the arms will be held m'orefirmly in contact with the adjacent bars A. Also, when the end having-the lugI is made convex, the

lug, before it is bent to one side, can be cut out of' the notch M,'. and both ends of the arms can, be, cut out ofi'a strap of metal,

Without loss and at one operation ofa press.

My invention, while efiicient in all re spects, is very simple and inexpensive to manufacture. It is easily and quickly set in place and as easily and quickly removed. It is essential thatthe parts supporting. the

member D in place be made adjustable because, with the utmost care, they adjacent bars A cannot always be set exactly the same distance apart, and, with the least variation in the width of the space, if rigid parts were used to hold the member D in place, they would either fit too tightly or too loosely to hold it properly in place. The adjustability of the parts E, which I call the arms, is an important feature of my invention. The ends of the slot Fare preferably made rounding to better fit the contour of the member. D when closely adjusted thereto, and the ends of the slot H, rectangular to better fit the lugs I When in close contact therewith.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Let ters I Patent 'is 1. In fillers for the spaces between the Verticalbars in the panels of animal pens, the combination oil a verticallydisposed centrally located member, horizontally disposed arms arranged in pair-s and adjustablyconnect'ed to the upper and lower ends of the =ce'ntrally located member, said arms having their outstanding ends adapted to contact with the adjacent vertical bars of the panel, and means to hold said pairs of arms securely on the upper and lower ends ofthe central member and also in rigid contact with the adjacent vertical bars.

2. In fillers for the spaces between the vertical bars in the panels of animal pens, the combination of a vertically disposed centrally located member, horizontally disposed arms arranged in pairs and lapped on each other, and means to adjustably con ne'ct said arms to the upper and lower ends of the central member', the outstanding end of each arm being adapted to contact securely with the adjacent bar of the panel and to thus hold the central member rigidly in place in the space between the adjacent bars of the panel.

3. In fillers for the spaces between the vertical bars in the panels of animal pens, the combination of a vertically disposed centrally located member, horizontally disposed arms arranged in pairs and lapped on each other, and'p'rovided with elongated slots, a

laterally disposed lug on one end of each arm, said lug being adapted to enter and slide in the adjacent slot in the other arm, whereby the arms-may be securely held in alignment and adjusted on each other, .the

outstanding ends of the armsbeing adapted to contact with the adjacent bars of the panel, and means to adjustably connect one of the lapping pairs of arms to the upper end of the central member, and theother pair of lapping arms tothe lower end of said member. I

in fillers for the spaces between the vertical. bars in the panels or. animal pens,

the combination of a vertically disposed centrally located member, horizontally disposed arms arranged, in pairs and lapped on each other, said arms each being provided with a pair of elon ated slots, one slot adjacent each end or the arm, one of said slots having rounded ends, and the other having rectangular ends, the ends of the arm having the rounded slot being provided with a laterally extended lug and the ends oi the arms having the rectangular slot being provided witha centra'l recess, the lateral lugs being adapted to enter and slide in the rectangular slots,

and means to adjustably connect. the lapped pairs of arms to the upper and lower ends of the central member, whereby the outstandin recessed end of each arm may be brought into rigid contact witlrthe adjacent bars of the panel.

5. In a device of the character described,

the combinationof a-vertically disposed member centrally located between adjacent vertical bars of a panel for an animal pen, and having threaded upper and lower ends, a pair of" correspondingly threaded nuts placed on said threaded ends, the pairs of adjustable lapped together arms having mating slots located centrally therein, one

of the pairs of arms being placed between the nuts on the upper end of the central the combination of a vertically disposed member centrally located between adjacent vertical bars of a panel for an animal pen, and having threaded upper and lower ends, a pair oi -::oi'*respon iiingly threaded nuts Jlaced on each of said threaded ends, the

lit)

pairs of adjustable lapped together arms having mating slots. located centrally'there in, and each arm being provided with a laterally disposed lug at one end and a sub-; stantial recess at the other, the ends, of the central member being passed through central slots in the arms, and each pair 01" lapped together arms being adjnstably'held on said men'iber by the nuts on the endsoi" the member.

Fairfield, Iowa, July 80, 1926.

CHARLES o. LESHER. 

